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Auction: 19003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 300

The campaign pair awarded to Guardsman D. J. Denholm, 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards who was killed in action during the epic night action on Mount Tumbledown 13-14 June 1982

General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24469565 Gdsm D Denholm SG); South Atlantic 1982, with rosette (24469565 Gdsm D J Denholm SG), the first with some contact wear and a little polished, otherwise good very fine (2)

Derek James Denholm was born on 10 May 1958 at Glasgow and enlisted into the Scots Guards in January 1978. Having served two tours in Northern Ireland, from 27 August - 26 December 1978 and 10 March 1980 - 10 November 1981, Denholm served during the Falklands War and was killed in action in the Battle for Mount Tumbledown on the night of 13-14 June 1982, his cause of death being officially recorded as ‘blast injury, multiple shrapnel wounds’. At the time of his death he was serving with 14 Platoon, Left Flank Company, 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards and he is buried at Sandymount Cemetery, Glasgow, Scotland.

The fighting was fierce for the Left Flank Company on Mount Tumbledown, made harder by an enemy force which was well dug-in and supported by machine guns and snipers. At 2.30am a second British assault overwhelmed the Argentinian defences. British troops swarmed the mountaintop and drove the Argentinians out, at times fighting with fixed bayonets. Lance Corporal Rennie gives his own account:

'Our assault was initiated by a Guardsman killing a sniper, which was followed by a volley of 66mm anti-tank rounds. We ran forward in extended line, machine-gunners and riflemen firing from the hip to keep the enemy heads down, enabling us to cover the open ground in the shortest possible time. Halfway across the open ground, 2 Platoon went to ground to give covering fire support, enabling us to gain a foothold on the enemy position. From then on we fought from crag to crag, rock to rock, taking out pockets of enemy and lone riflemen, all of whom resisted fiercely.'

Major Kiszely, who was to become a senior general after the war, was the first man into the enemy position, personally shooting two enemy conscripts and bayoneting a third, his bayonet breaking in two. Seeing their company commander among the Argentinians inspired 14 and 15 Platoons to make the final dash across open ground to get within bayoneting distance of the marines. Kiszely and six other Guardsmen suddenly found themselves standing on top of the mountain, looking down on Stanley under street lighting and with vehicles moving along the roads.

The 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards lost eight dead and 43 wounded during the Battle for Mount Tumbledown and in consequence of gallantry shown that day its men were rewarded with one DSO, two MC's (including one to Major Kiszely), two DCM's (including one posthumous, sold in these rooms) and two MM's.

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Estimate
£4,000 to £4,500

Starting price
£4000